Infantry Section Training

The BattleGroup in 2016

First off, I would like to thank you all for your commitment to our community in the last year and a half that the BattleGroup has been running. Thank you to our amazing members who contribute personal unpaid time, wishing only to see the enjoyment of their fellow members. Thank you to the ExpBG community that has broken all records in 2015, with over 30 active members and our first Joint-Op with another community - this alone is a big achievement.

Moving on in 2016, the BattleGroup will continue pushing to improve and expand our unit. To grow our community, we want to continue with the right members and the right attitudes. Your help is appreciated here, be that with prompt sign-ups, regular attendance, professional behaviour during ops, or just bringing in new blood. If you are no longer keen on remaining within our community, please talk to your 2IC.

What's new in 2016?

New Campaign features:

Persistent, non-linear campaign progression with mlitiple factions and story lines
Commanders decide how, when and what objectives to tackle
Our actions now impact overall civilian attitude, affect high level enemy strategy
Introducing story-line characters and HVTs, all with own bios
Campaign Documentation, with map and profiles on all factions and HVTs:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18-cEi3-KLgBTvcklaQp-t4pPsxWsmJpOAeDuE_TgAVA/edit
Database integration, to save vital mission stats, enemy movements, objective progression etc
New campaign budget, for purchasing vehicles, weapons, satellite intel, insert options etc
Updated catalogue for purchasing assets/services
Bounties on HVTs for reward to budget, changes whether captured or killed
Intelligent conversations with civilians, change based on situation
Mulitple insert options (Boats, Air, Halo and ground vehicles)
Introducing a new enemy occupation system, dynamically populating the map with enemies, civs and friendlies
Revamped Rally Point System, featuring deployable Medical Facility
Commander controlled HALO insert
FAC controlled Air Transport/Medevac
Expanded personal Locker system
HD Campaign map, will update as situation does, http://dev.theexpeditionarybattlegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/Panthera_HD_MAP.jpg
Browsable Campaign map, (similar to Google Maps)
HD Campaign trailer: https://youtu.be/Qiy-ziu6kuU
Platoon improvements:

Our own ExpBG Units mod: preconfigured and Editor-placeable, HQ + 3 Sections, MG, Sniper, pilot support teams
Our own ExpBG Factions mod: a massive variation of civilians, enemy groups and friendly factions to fight or work alongside
Our own ExpBG Music mod: Introducing more ambient music whilst reducing mission size
Revamped uniform patches for each Section, green, black, red, blue and gold
New weapons (eg L129), updated loadouts and equipment for the campaign and ITC
New roles: Platoon CTM, Emergency First Responder, Pointman, Sapper, Engineer, Marksman
Training courses with re-branded documentation, to qualify members in these, plus NCO training
Upgraded ITC base to support the above
Infrastructure improvements:

A new website, redesigned and rebuilt: http://www.theexpeditionarybattlegroup.com
Optimised dev process-flow, github code management
Faster ArmaSync repo servers
Revamped ArmaSync repo structure to optimise mod releases and induction of new members
Updated documentation for ArmaSync setup and repo upgrade
Reduction in size of mandatory core modset by over 2GB
New mods introduced, fully tested for function and compatibility
And finally...

Relaunch of consistent Friday Open Ops, with high attendance
Continued running ITC 1, 2 among other training
Continued Recruitment - let's get that 3rd Section!
A massive thank you to everyone, especially those I may have missed in any way.

See you soon!
Don Meehan, The Expeditionary Battlegroup